NPR streaming PG.99 and THOU live audio!

PG.99 and THOU both played Washington, DC this past weekend... DURING the middle of hurricane Irene! NPR was awesomely on hand and recorded the show!

* PG.99 streaming audio @ NPR
* THOU streaming audio @ NPR

A true road warrior named Alec travelled from Maine(!) for the event too, and took some gnarly close-up footage of the bands as well. More to surface, but here's THOU covering NIRVANA (at the 2minute mark):



Last related news for now: longtime likeminded weirdo Ryan Hex is still going strong with his Hex Records / Hanging Like a Hex thing... stoked he's still writing righteous reviews after all these years. Anyway, he just dropped some science on THOU's new The Archer & The Owle megeEP including this tasty tidbit:

"Thou keeps their massive sludge experiments interesting, rocking, and most of all, heavy as Marty McFly's opinion of time travel. It's like Eyehategod with extra brains and just as much spite, and some cool, twisted melody to top it all off. They probably gave this away for free online already anyway, but the vinyl looks pretty cool and I think they even made a run of cassettes for this release if you're into 80's technology."

* Read the whole thing here, its great and there's plenty of other well written reviews too. No universal praise either, dawg keeps it real!

Beyond that, we're steadily selling the new releases (and reiusse) from both bands, so check em out if you haven't already:

* PG.99 stuff @ Robotic Empire's Online Store
* THOU stuff @ Robotic Empire's Online Store

THOU posts "mixtape"

* Rad THOU-assembled "mixtape" over at Cvlt Nation. 21 varied trax!

PG.99 reunion show footage and photos

(photo by Marc Gaertner, more here)
PG.99's Best Friends Day performance has come and gone, and its probably safe to say that a unanimous good time was had by all! Thanks to Curtis and Tony (and everyone else) responsible for helping this happen, and fingers crossed the DC show this weekend is just as fun! For those who missed this awesome video, it was the first one posted and seems to be the best thus far:



<3

UPDATE - more footage: Rough audio and sorta shakey footage, but awesome shot of Mike Taylor jumping into the crowd (with guitar) at 3:25... and then Chris at around the 6min mark:




Plus, another round of solid photos (by Chris Boarts Larson) from Friday's reunion show in RVA can be found over at Brooklyn Vegan.

New releases from PG.99 and THOU + shirt and vinyl sales, new items and more!!

Sometimes it can be difficult to write about dudes you've spent important formative years with, witnessing them grow from teenage punx into skilled musicians and incredible songwriters. Our longtime brothers from Sterling, Virginia are just that though... so with a nostalgic heart we present the latest Robotic Empire update.


PG.99 is the first band we ever did a release with, back in the very beginning Robodog days at the end of the last century. Its pretty crazy that over 12 years later, here we are again still talking about the same band... but they seemed incredible to us back then and still remain so today. From their first demo material to the final recordings five years later, it was amazing to watch this band evolve into the formidable force they became. Its appropriate then that Robotic Empire presents the long-overdue vinyl issuing of PAGENINETYNINE's Singles collection album.


Eighteen tracks spanning their existence have been pressed into one stellar LP. Originally released on CD by (the now-defunct?) Reptilian Records, this collection compiles PG.99's widespread non-album material. It includes the stuff from their splits with CIRCLE TAKES THE SQUARE, CITY OF CATERPILLAR, ENEMY SOIL, PROCESS IS DEAD and REACTOR NO. 7 along with other short-run compilation, EP and demo tracks.

Most PAGENINETYNINE fans have a favorite album, but in some ways Singles may be a better overall representation of the band. Each of their three full-lengths (and split longplayer with MAJORITY RULE) are excellent individual documents in their progression, but Singles manages to show it all: their humble beginnings to furious midpoint and experimental end. From the original demo tape to final split EP release, the wild ride of PG.99's various creations are clearly displayed on Singles, showing a band that evolved more in their prolific five years than one could really deem reasonable.

Finely mastered by James Plotkin for a much warmer and fuller sound not heard on the original releases, this 12" has been packaged in a printed innersleeve (with an excellent eulogy by JR Hayes of PIG DESTROYER) and a silk-screened fold-over cover (printed by Broken Press, ala document #8 - click here for a bigger version of the above photospread). 1000 copies have been pressed: 200 on green, 200 on blue and 600 on black vinyl.



** THIS IS TECHNICALLY A PRE-ORDER as it officially has an August 2nd "street date", although we've been given the go-ahead to start shipping out pre-orders within a week or two from now. However, everything for this release is now finished and in house already.. so you can order this NOW in the Robotic Empire - Online Store and we will ship out all orders as promptly as possible! **


Closely related is the latest pressing of PG.99's landmark document #8 album. Considered by many to be their definitive album, its easily the one with the most vision. Originally recorded throughout one hectic weekend in the winter of 2001, document #8 was re-mixed a few years later by band members and engineer Kurt Ballou. Since this recording those guys have forged a relationship that continues throughout each PYGMY LUSH recording (also accomplished at Kurt's Godcity studios) and the results speak for themselves. Blistering songs dripping with spirit and passion, document #8 is arguably PG.99's magnum opus. Also housed in a silkscreen jacket, this one comes with a large 16-page booklet of lyrics/artwork/photos/etc (click here for a bigger version of the above photospread). 1000 more copies of this LP have been pressed: 200 on red, 200 on white and 600 on black vinyl.

Both of these releases are timed to correspond with PAGENINETYNINE's reunion at this year's Best Friends Day festival in Richmond, Virginia. Friday, August 19th will see them play alongside CONVERGE, STRIKE ANYWHERE, CAPSULE and more at the Canal Club in RVA. Their plan is to perform the document #8 album in full, along with other material spanning their history. Its definitely not something to miss, as PG.99 hasn't played live in over eight years. More information on the (massively fun) Best Friends Day event can be found here: http://www.bestfriendsdayrva.com

In a new addition to the Best Friends Day performance, PAGENINETYNINE will also play a bit closer to home at the Black Cat in Washington, DC the following weekend on Saturday, August 27th. Appropriately, THOU will be opening up that show... PG.99 + THOU for $10 = pretty hard to beat! More info on that over at the Black Cat website.

Both of those LPs, along with some celebratory-discounted PG.99 t-shirts (and the many members' other bands' records) can be found in the Robotic Empire - Online Store.




Related in core fundamentals is a lengthy new release from Louisiana's THOU. Longtime friends of the aforementioned Virginians, THOU is cut from a very similar cloth wherein a DIY mentality is the backbone to extreme(ly) heavy music. The sonic results may vary from PG.99, but THOU's rock-solid work ethic, relentless touring and absurdly prolific release schedule now rivals (and possibly exceeds) their Sterling, VA contemporaries. Its also been a great pleasure to work with these maniacs in the past, thus we're honored to present their new 12" to you today.


Recorded throughout the turn of the decade, THOU deliver another potent 40 minutes of triumphant doom-laden sludge fury on The Archer & The Owle. Atypical heavyness to say the least, the ultra-crushing sound THOU has become known for is subtly enhanced by unique elements ala piano, atmospheric noise, horns, double bass and several re-envisioned cover songs for keen ears to decipher. Along with otherwise unreleased Summit-era material, this lengthy "megaEP" also (appropriately) contains THOU's original half of the now postponed co-release with PYGMY LUSH, oddly inspiring the band to then cover two tracks by their collaborators' latest work.

Its all spice added to the overall stunning effect of a truly visionary band; intelligent commentary atop six massive tracks of absolutely bludgeoning music. Presented on color vinyl housed in a beautiful spot-glossed "tip-on" classic style heavyweight gatefold LP jacket, this is yet another brick in THOU's ever-strengthening wall of spite and menace. All mailorder copies of The Archer & The Owle vinyl include a canvas patch exclusive to the label and band copies. 2000 copies of this "megaEP" have been pressed: 500 on opaque gray (mailorder/band only) and 1500 on translucent clear. This and much of THOU's vast back-catalog (plus a few t-shirt designs) can be found now in the Robotic Empire - Online Store.



** As above with PG.99's Singles 12", THIS IS TECHNICALLY A PRE-ORDER as it officially has an August 2nd "street date", although we've been given the go-ahead to start shipping out pre-orders within a week or two from now. However, everything for this release is en route to us... so you can order this NOW in the Robotic Empire - Online Store and we will ship out all orders as promptly as possible! **


In addition to the vinyl version of this behemoth, we've teamed up with our brothers at Sweat Lodge Guru (who are also responsible for the awesome OMGvinyl) to unleash the cassette version of this "megaEP".

300 copies of the pro-tape version have been made, which comes in an unreal two-color letterpress double-sided, mulit-panel j-card (click here for a bigger version of the above photospread). Pretty darn impressive for 6 bucks, this is available NOW in the Robotic Empire - Online Store as well as from Sweat Lodge Guru.

In addition to these new releases (and re-press) we've got a fairly significant RoboSale going on at the moment. Hot on the heels of our insane "fire sale" discounts throughout May and June, we're now offering a slew of Robotic Empire released vinyl and t-shirts at some stupid discounts... only until the end of July though. The vinyl is a widespread slew of Robo (and related) releases, and the shirts are mostly discounted in related celebration of PG.99's burst of activity! Here's the list:

VINYL: (this sale applies to all colors we have in stock)
* Cannabis Corpse - Tube Of The Resinated 12" = $9.99
* Capsule - Blue 12+CD = $8.99
* Employer, Employee - Discography 12" = $9.99
* Floor - Below & Beyond (Deluxe 10xLP, 1x7", 8xCD, 32-page booklet) = $239.99
* Ghastly City Sleep - Self-Titled 12" = $7.99
* Gods & Queens - Untitled (debut) 12"+CD = $11.99
* Inter Arma - Sundown 12" (Mirror Universe release) = $7.99
* Isis - Oceanic 2xLP (vinyl+printed sleeves only, no gatefold jacket) = $9.99
* Pygmy Lush - Bitter River 12" = $8.99
* Red Sparowes - At The Soundless Dawn 2x12" = $15.99
* Red Sparowes - Every Red Heart... 2x12" = $15.99
* Ultra Dolphins - Mar 12" = $7.99
* Ultra Dolphins - Why Are You Laugh 12" = $7.99
* Verse En Coma - Self-Titled 10"+CD = $9.99
* Young Widows - Live 12" (180g) = $9.99

T-SHIRTS: (this sale applies to all sizes we have in stock)
* Pageninetynine - Cow = $9.99
* Pageninetynine - Family = $9.99
* Pageninetynine - Girl With Heart = $11.99
* Pageninetynine - Goth Girl = $9.99
* Pageninetynine - Owl = $11.99
* Pygmy Lush - Man on the Moon = $10.99
* Pygmy Lush - Donkey = $10.99
* Pygmy Lush - Cold World = $10.99
* Pygmy Lush - Mount Hope (black) = $10.99
* Pygmy Lush - Mount Hope (white) = $10.99

All of the above discounted stuff can be found now in the Robotic Empire - Online Store. This is all in an effort to clear some space, as along with the new releases above we also recently re-pressed some essential TORCHE albums (highlighted in the last update). What this all amounts to is a real premium for space at the lil' ol' RoboHQ so thus, the sales continue. However, this is likely to be our last large-scale discounting for a while, but nonetheless there's some good deals to be had. Along with the above items, over 275+ others have various sales attached to them as well.

Beyond all the new Robo label activity, we've actually gotten in very few new stuff/restocks lately (for a change), only a couple items really... so we're posting those along with the last update's stuff.

NEW ITEMS: (from this update)
* Obliteration - Nekropsalms 12" (Forcefield) - $9.99
* Pageninetynine - Singles - BLACK VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $11.99
* Pageninetynine - Singles - BLUE COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $11.99
* Pageninetynine - Singles - GREEN COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $11.99
* Thou - The Archer & The Owle - GREY COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $14.99
* Thou - The Archer & The Owle - RED COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $14.99
* Thou - The Archer & The Owle Cassette (Robotic Empire / Sweat Lodge Guru) - $5.99
* Thou / Moloch - Tears That Soak A Callous Heart Cassette (Perpetual Motion Machine) - $4.99

RESTOCKS: (from this update)
* Cannabis Corpse - Blunted At Birth CD (Forcefield) - $9.99
* Cannabis Corpse - Tube of the Resinated CD (Forcefield) - $9.99
* Cough - Sigillum Luciferi CD (Forcefield) - $9.99
* Cough / The Wounded Kings - An Introduction To The Black Arts 12" VINYL (Forcefield) - $9.99
* Pageninetynine - Document #8 - BLACK VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $11.99
* Pageninetynine - Document #8 - RED COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $11.99
* Pageninetynine - Document #8 - WHITE COLORED VINYL 12"(Robotic Empire) - $11.99

NEW ITEMS: (from last update)
* 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: (from last update)
* 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

WOW. Yeah, if we haven't been busy enough lately... lets keep the crazy going! Please hit up the Robotic Empire - Online Store and pick something up if you can. We've gone kinda nutzo on vinyl lately and could use some help getting it outta here. Big ups!

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"a cool offering of subterranean garage skuzz" (aka: lost/found BAD SECRETS review)

Well, our ballsoutcrazy June sale has come to an end, but we still have nearly 250 random items on sale at the moment, including this oft-overlooked weirdo record we dropped about two years ago... the sole release (thus far) from BAD SECRETS:


We're going out of our way to post about this oddball release (a 9"+CD) as we just found an old review of this wild slab. Longtime brethren Crucial Blast are almost like an east coast Aquarius, whereas they take (lots of) time to type up detailed description of each item they sell. Impressive to say the least, and here's what they had to say about the aforementioned BAD SECRETS jammer:

"Weird, cavernous, bloozy garage skum from this duo out of Louisville, kind of a surprise offering from Robotic Empire. It's been descibed as "shoegazey" by some, probably because of the copious amounts of reverb that soak into every nook and cranny of these seven songs, but Bad Secrets sound to my ears more like the kind of drug-n'-booze addled noise rock outfits that were slithering out of downtown New York City back in the mid to late 80's, the sort of thing that might have appeared on Rough Trade or Homestead. The guys behind this are drummer Dan Davis (also of Kodan Armada) and guitarist Evan Patterson, the latter known for his involvement in some fine contempo pigfuck/noise rock outfits like Breather Resist, Young Widows and Black Cross. In this configuration, though, Patterson goes for a more drugged and dissonant sort of clamor, the two musicians shambling through these creepy swamp-stained dirges, a vague industrial quality sticking to everything as the twangy, skronking guitar wigs out over a pounding, percussive oil-drum throb, the songs partially formed, and apparently partially improvised as well. The recording is suitably dank and dingy, the aforementioned reverb-heavy sound has it's murkiness amplified by the low fi four-track production. Haunted, stoned gothic noise rock riddled with slurred, drawling vocals and ghostly wails, subterranean metallic scrape and trippy stereo panning, clanking riffs and chaotic drum freak outs, and weird production fuckery that ranges from sped-up tape noise and sudden drop-outs to grainy needle pops and room noise. Imagine Pussy Galore on Quaaludes, or Nick Cave stalking some ancient crypt, and you're in the general vicinity. The guitars utilize some neat shimmery Morricone-esque twang on some of the tracks, too, and the band occasionally even goes off into something resembling a nocturnal version of surf rock at times. Things get pretty "out" and psychedelic throughout this little record, but the duo are still able to produce some seriously catchy noise rock jams like "Gimmee Sound" and "Go And Leave". It's a cool offering of subterranean garage skuzz, presented on an unusual 9" size vinyl record in a silk-screened sleeve, and includes a cd version of the record." © CRUCIAL BLAST

There ya go. We've got that joint discounted to $9.99 at the moment, and with both formats together (CD and vinyl) you get double trouble on this one.

* BAD SECRETS in the Robotic Empire - Online Store
* YOUNG WIDOWS (and related) in the Robotic Empire - Online Store

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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THOU to crush ancestral homelands (aka, our dawgs are touring EUROPE!)

Our southern sludge brothers THOU are about to embark on a journey to the ancestral lands... in other words, Europe: watch out!

10.06 - Brighton, England at Cowley Club
11.06 - Groningen, Netherlands at Vera
12.06 - Eindhoven, Netherlands at Area 51
13.06 - Leiden, Netherlands at 071
14.06 - Bielefeld, Germany at AJZ
15.06 - Hamburg, Germany at Flora
16.06 - Copenhagen, Denmark at Stengade
17.06 - Berlin, Germany at Cassiopeia
18.06 - Leipzig, Germany at Zoro
19.06 - Praha, Czech Republic at 007 Club
20.06 - Wien, Austria at Arena
21.06 - Koper, Slovenia at Pandamonium
22.06 - Milano, Italy at Dauntaun / Leocavallo
23.06 - Bologna, Italy at XM24
24.06 - Stuttgart, Germany at JH West
25.06 - Versmold, Germany at Cry Me a River Fest
26.06 - Mülheim, Germany at AZ Mülheim
27.06 - Utrecht, Netherlands at dB's CAB-Rondom 100
28.06 - Kortrijk, Belgium at Cinepalace
29.06 - Portiers, France at Le Confort Moderne
30.06 - Paris, France at La Miroiterie
01.07 - London, England
02.07 - Nottingham, England at Stuck on a Name Studios

Shortly upon their return we'll have a substantial new release from these burly boys titled The Archer & The Owle. More info forthcoming, but in the meantime... check out these fiends in action if you live on that side of the pond!

Deep Discount Turbo Mega Sale + New Distro Update

So our last update's store-wide $2 CD sale was a CRAZY BLOWOUT!! We just wanted to clear a little space, but the results were totally unexpected! Of course our gears are turning now and we have decided a few other formats also need a store-wide discount on the VERY CHEAP. Until the end of June, in addition to all remaining standalone CDs being only two bucks, regardless of normal price 99% of the following four formats will be heavily discounted in an all new Deep Discount Turbo Mega Sale(tm):

7"s = $2.99
2xCDs = $4.99
DVDs = $4.99
CD+DVDs = $4.99

In addition to:
CDs = $1.99
CD-Rs = $1.99

Just like the CD sale, please order more than $10 worth of stuff so we don't totally eat it on this... but yeah, if the prior $2 CD sale is any indication, stuff is likely to move fast! We had nearly 500 CD titles when the sale started and around 200 less than 12hrs later (down to less than 100 now!). Better skedaddle on over to the Robotic Empire - Online Store if ye be keen!

In addition to us loosing our minds and recklessly discounting the above formats, we've also stocked a small but mighty amount of new items & restocks. Almost entirely crucial bangers this time, there's not a ton of stuff but its almost all gnarly:

NEW ITEMS:
* Barn Owl - Ancestral Star 12" (Thrill Jockey) $14.99
* Des Ark - Don't Rock The Boat, Sink The *ucker - ORANGE COLORED VINYL 12" (Lovitt) $14.99
* Electro Quarterstaff - Gretzky 2x12" (War On Music) $21.99
* Eternal Tapestry - Beyond The 4th Door 12" (Thrill Jockey) $14.99
* Fell Voices / Ash Borer - Split 12" (Eternal Warfare) $10.99
* Lace Bows - Glitter Pulse Cassette (Cubic Pyramid) $6.99
* Liturgy - Aesthethica - CLEAR COLORED VINYL 2x12" (Thrill Jockey) $19.99
* Lotus Eaters - Wurmwulv 2x12" (Taiga) $29.99
* Lusca - Exodus CD (Self Released) $11.99
* Lusca - Self-Titled CD (Self Released) $7.99
* Melted Glass - Fluorescent Swamp Cassette (Cubic Pyramid) $6.99
* Mountains - Air Museum - CLEAR COLORED VINYL 12" (Thrill Jockey) $14.99
* Mountains - Choral 2x12" (Thrill Jockey) $19.99
* Pine Barren - Demo Cassette (Big Mountain) $4.99
* Pygmy Lush - Cold World / Guilt - CLEAR COLORED VINYL 7" (Lovitt) $4.99
* Pygmy Lush - Mount Hope 12" (Lovitt) $14.99
* Pygmy Lush - Old Friends - BLACK VINYL 12" (Lovitt) $14.99
* Pygmy Lush - Old Friends - CLEAR WITH RED TINT COLORED VINYL 12" (Lovitt) $14.99
* Pygmy Lush - Old Friends Cassette (Lovitt) $4.99
* Sunflare - Self-Titled Cassette (Cubic Pyramid) $6.99
* Sunflare - Young Love 12" (Cubic Pyramid) $18.99
* Wizard Smoke - Speed Of Smoke Cassette (Big Mountain) $4.99

RESTOCKS:
* Algernon Cadwallader - Some Kind Of Cadwallader 12" (Security Blanket) $8.99
* Capsule / Furnace - Split 7" (Moment of Collapse) $4.99

It should be noted that the items above aren't really included in the Deep Discount Turbo Mega Sale(tm), but there's still LOADS of killer tunes available stupid cheap in the Robotic Empire - Online Store, so czech it out if you like dirt cheap awesome music! Peace!

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TIDELAND is touring Europe... RIGHT NOW!

Attn EUROZ: TIDELAND is all up in your business RIGHT NOW. Booked by our awesome Italian bros at Sons of Vesta, Sterling Virginia's TIDELAND are on your shores. Seriously, check them out!!

05/09 milano, IT - dauntaun
05/10 marseille, FR - enthropy
05/11 toulouse, FR - le cri de la mouette
05/12 st. feliu de codines, SP - incivic zone
05/13 madrid, SP - el perro club
05/14 oviedo, SP - - bar l'gamonal
05/15 torrelavega, SP - la oveja negra

05/17 nantes, FR - chez jules

05/19 leiden, NL - SUB071
05/20 utrecht, NL ACU
05/21 detmold, GER - alte pauline

05/25 essen, GER - emo-keller
05/26 giessen, GER - AK44
05/27 leipzig, GER - G17
05/28 berlin, GER - schockoladen

05/31 treviso, IT - bianconiglio
06/01 noventa padovana, IT - parco della fornace
06/02 bologna, IT - atlantide
06/03 forlì, IT - valverde
06/04 arezzo, IT - habitat skatepark
06/05 napoli, IT - perditempo

TIDELAND - Braindead on the Interstate

TIDELAND - Crash

ABOOYA!

MASSIVE Robotic Empire sale: all CDs $2!! plus BANGIN new items/restocks

Although not a massive update this time, almost everything here is from heavy hitters. We also need to clear some space at RoboHQ so we're offering a crazy $2 CD sale. Yep, EVERY individual CD on our site is only 2 bucks for the rest of the month. We're gonna bleed money on this one for sure, but need the space more... so we're asking for a $10 minimum order if you go for the cheap CDs so we don't completely lose our asses here. This applies to all single-CDs and not 2xCDs, DVDs, etc (although a bunch of those are already on sale too). Check out the Robotic Empire - Online Store's CD category for almost 500(!) $2 CDs. For real!

Just about every new item/restock this week is a banger, so kinda no need to highlight anything in particular as it basically all rules! Check out this quality stuff, quick n' dirty:

NEW ITEMS:
* Batillus - Furnace 12" (Seventh Rule) $11.99
* Celeste - Pessimiste(s) - CLEAR CYAN COLORED VINYL 12" (Denovali) $14.99
* Cigarette - Blush Cassette (Cosmic Debris) $3.99
* Converge - Axe To Fall 12" (Deathwish) $10.99
* Crude - Corner 12" (La Familia) $11.99
* Get Rad - Choose Your Own Adventure 7" (Perpetual Motion Machine) $4.99
* Ghostlimb - Infrastructure 12" (Vitriol) $14.99
* Guilt, The - Worth Nothing Cassette (Cosmic Debris) $2.99
* Heathens - II - WHITE COLORED VINYL 12" (Last Anthem) $10.99
* Integrity - The Blacklest Curse - GREY COLORED VINYL (Deathwish) $10.99
* Lento - Icon - CLEAR COLORED VINYL (Denovali) $12.99
* Lustmord - Zoetrope 2x12" (Burning World) $27.99
* Millions - Gather Scatter 12" (Seventh Rule) $11.99
* Moutheater - Colonial 12" (Last Anthem) $9.99
* Nachtmystium - Live At Roadburn 2010 12" (Roadburn) $24.99
* Pulling Teeth - Paranoid Delusions | Paradise Illusions 12" (Deathwish) $11.99
* Rot In Hell - As Pearls Before Swine - BEER COLORED VINYL 12" (Deathwish) $11.99
* Scott Kelly - The Wake 12" (Burning World) $24.99
* Victims - A Dissident - GREEN COLORED VINYL 12" (Deathwish) $11.99
* Zombi - Escape Velocity 12" (Relapse) $14.99

(actually, maybe worth mentioning CIGARETTE has some guestlove from PYGMY LUSH dawggery)

RESTOCKS:
* Austrasian Goat, The - Piano & Stump 2x12" - GREEN COLORED VINYL (Burning World) $27.99
* Bersarin Quartett - Self-Titled 2x12" - 180g BLACK VINYL (Denovali) $19.99
* Catalyst, The - Marianas Trench + 9" CD (Perpetual Motion Machine) $7.99
* Catalyst, The - Swallow Your Teeth CD (The Perpetual Motion Machine) $7.99
* Celeste - Nihiliste(s) 12" - WHITE CLEAR GOLD SPLATTER COLORED VINYL (Denovali) $14.99
* Coliseum - True Quiet / Last Wave 7" - BLACK VINYL (Deathwish) $4.99
* Doomriders - Darkness Come Alive 12" (Deathwish) $9.99
* Gnaw Their Tongues - All The Dread Magnificence Of Perversity 2x12" (Burning World) $27.99
* Hellshock - Shadows Of The Afterworld 12" (Black Water) $11.99
* Her Name Is Calla - The Heritage 12" (Denovali) $11.99
* Her Name is Calla - The Quiet Lamb 2x12" (Denovali) $24.99
* Indian - The Sycophant 12" - BLACK VINYL (Seventh Rule) $12.99
* Ingrid - Tryangle Cassette (Cosmic Debris) $4.99
* Jeniferever - Choose A Bright Morning 2x12" - BLUE GREEN SPLATTER COLORED VINYL (Denovali) $19.99
* Kylesa / Victims - Split 7" - BLUE COLORED VINYL (La Familia) $6.99
* Like Rats - Self-Titled 7" (Cosmic Debris) $4.99
* Pizza / Tideland - Split 7" (Cosmic Debris) $4.99
* Slang - The Immortal Sin 12" (Schizophrenic) $11.99
* Sweet Cobra - Bottom Feeder 12" - 1-SIDED ETCHED VINYL (Seventh Rule) $10.99
* Trap Them - Filth Rations Cassette (Dead Accents) $7.99
* Trap Them - Seizures In Barren Praise 12" - WHITE COLORED VINYL (Deathwish) $9.99

Yeah, pretty much speaks for itself... lotsa good stuff there to sink your teeth into. Its also worth mentioning to anyone thinking about getting the FLOOR Below & Beyond deluxe vinyl box set, we're down to less than 10 copies now and once its gone... that's it! The 8xCD set is also available, and the "FLOORCOMBO" discount jawns is still going on at the moment so you can cop $10 off +a badass free 8xButton set if you order Below & Beyond on either format w/ a FLOOR t-shirt. Holla at that here. Plus with our $2 CD sale for the month of May, there ain't really a reason NOT to hit up the Robotic Empire - Online Store!

We're gonna wrap up this update with a little love to some good friends. As summer creeps in the northern hemisphere, underground fests are in full organizational swing and we've got widespread comrades involved in TWO separate awesome fiestas on the same weekend in very different parts of the country.

For all the East Coast and/or Virginia natives, Best Friends Day is going down August 18th-21st and as the previously mentioned PG.99 reunion is happening there, so are some other awesome bros... er bands performing as well: BARONESS, CONVERGE, CAPSULE, STRIKE ANYWHERE, JESUIT, MAGRUDERGRIND, THE CATALYST and a whole rack of other awesome ones we aren't really directly related to in any way. Plus if you like hillbilly water parks, booze, bikes, scavenger hunts and/or awesome people... BFD is seriously a blast.

For anyone outside of the eastern half of the country, our good friends in MONtana are putting on the badass Total Fest the same weekend (August 18-20). We're talking mass river tubing, BBQs, a record swap, outdoor ruggedry and, oh yeah, bands! They're touting BIG BUSINESS, AKIMBO, GULL (Nate from ULTRA DOLPHINS's unreal 1manband), WHITE SH!T, THE MEN, MILK MUSIC and like 35+ odd more TBA. Pretty stacked and all ages, volunteer-run, non-profit and all that goodness of course. Hit up the Total Fest website and/or twitter for updates. Good dudes/backed hard.

Had to drop some shoutouts to our good friends music-related projects, both of which really should be a lot of fun. If you're remotely close to Montana or Richmond, or just looking for an awesome roadtrip excuse... well, there ya go.

Thanks for reading all this jibba jab, now to pimp ourselves one final time please hit up the Robotic Empire - Online Store to help us clear some space at HQ. Peace!

-Robotic Empire - Online Store

Robotic Empire's Twitter
Robotic Empire on Myspace
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Robotic Empire's email list
Robotic Empire's news blog/archive
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