Take a Look at Your Riff in Batillus’ “Mirrors”
Batillus’ forthcoming new album Concrete Sustain is easily their best effort yet. That’s not meant to disparage their 2009 self-titled EP or 2011 full-length Furnace, both of which crushed skulls with a vice grip one slow, pain-wrenching twist of the lever at a time. But with Concrete Sustain it feels like Batillus have finally forged a signature sound, one that’s instantly recognizable as Batillus and no one else. It’s equal parts the result of the band’s decision to vary up their rhythmic approach and tempo a bit and to integrate vocalist Fade Kainer’s industrial-tinged vocals into the whole in a much more seamless way.
The thunderous riffs and start-stop drum beat of “Concrete,” which premiered at Pitchfork a few weeks ago, got stuck in our heads instantly and has stayed there ever since. Now Invisible Oranges is hosting another new song called “Mirrors” and it’s just as infectious, starting off innocently enough before creeping to a rolling boil and climaxing with a clanging church bell at the end. And, dat riff! The entire song is basically just one riff, but, as the saying goes, it’s the motion of the ocean… it’s impressive that Batillus make it work for five whole minutes.
Batillus’ new album, Concrete Sustain, whichcomes out March 19 on Seventh Rule. Check them out live at the dates below:
2/28/2013 Ultra Lounge – Chicago, IL w/ Himalayan, Dead Level
3/01/2013 WISCO – Madison, WI w/ Lungs, Mercian, Subjugation
3/02/2013 Medusa – Minneapolis, MN w/ Lungs, Bellow
3/03/2013 The Railyard – Billings, MT
3/04/2013 Reid Center – Young Ballroom – Walla Walla, WA
3/05/2013 The Know – Portland, OR w/ Megaton Leviathan,, Towers
3/06/2013 Highline – Seattle, WA w/ Atriarch, Addaura
3/08/2013 The Swamp – Oakland, CA w/ Kowloon Walled City, Monuments Collapse, Amarok
3/09/2013 5 Star Bar – Los Angeles, CA w/ Kowloon Walled City, Suffering Luna, Destroy Judas
3/10/2013 Trunkspace – Phoenix, AZ w/ Sorxe, Ladybird, Goya
3/12 – 3/16/2013 SXSW TBA
3/17/2013 Mud & Water – Baton Rouge, LA w/ Grave Robbers
3/18/2013 The Feed & Seed – Lafayette, LA w/ Before the Eyewall, Guiltless
3/20/2013 Hidden Hand – Tallahassee, FL w/ Attack Culture, Praying, Rovagug
3/21/2013 Little Kings – Athens, GA w/ Pale Prophet
3/22/2013 Chapel Hill Underground – Chapel Hill, NC w/ Backwoods Payback, Bitter Resolve
3/23/2013 Strange Matter – Richmond, VA w/ Sinister Haze, Backwoods Payback, Men’s Room
