Pandemic Dispatches from Tales of the Tomb

How long has it been since someone called to us from the beyond of the Lockdown? 

Well, here we have a dispatch from a lovely group out of Edmonton Alberta.

Normally this is the point where I would make a little quip about the Stanley Cup Playoffs....but well, we saw what happened with the Blues.

Check out their BANDCAMP to stream their latest.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such. 

Pandemic Dispatches with pILE of pRIESTS

Again, we're listening in to a band who's been locked in the doors for the past few months. 

Today, we're hearing form Colorado based metallers, pILE of pRIESTS.

Check out their latest HERE.

1. How are things going where you are? 

It has been a pretty crazy ride the past few months. With the Covid crisis, to now the tragic murder of George Floyd and the protests that have followed; things are rather chaotic here in the US. 

But overall for us in the band, it has been great, the new album has been getting some great responses.

Pandemic Dispatches with Josh Kay of Alizarin

You know what I love about being a Midwest Based metal journo? I get totally ignore the coastal metal elites from the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Montreal, Toronto, Tampa, Boston, and NYC.

Those guys need to have their high horses taken down from beneath them. Flyover Country forever! (Until I move to either San Francisco or Philadelphia.)

So, let's talk about today's metal band from (checks notes) Los Angele...oh balls.

Check their music out on BANDCAMP.

Pandemic Dispatches with Rivetskull

We are all looking to be heard in these dark times. Today, you can hear from Rivetskull. They're an LA based metal band.

Check out their latest video HERE.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such?

We are all located in the Seattle and Los Angeles area where the stay at home orders have been very strict.  

They have been allowing people to get back to work under certain conditions and requirements, but there are definitely no music venues opening and there is no expectation for that to happen anytime soon.

Pandemic Dispatches with BADGUYSWIN

Let out your scream of rage and denial. There are people in the USA still not taking this pandemic seriously. This is even when they've lost people to the virus.

Mask UP.

Check out this VIDEO from BADGUYSWIN and see how they're dealing.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

We live in small-town Canada, so things haven't changed much for us. 

There are social distancing precautions in stores, many restaurants are take out only and the parks are closed. On top of some businesses choosing to temporarily close or work at reduced hours, major events that fuel the town's economy have also been cancelled. 

2. How long have you been sheltering in place at this time?

Pandemic Dispatches with Two Car Train

You know as well as I do that our living inside of our homes has us going crazy.

Take a minute and listen to this music and you tell me that you're not happier for having heard something so new, so pure.... HERE

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

Things have been drearily looked down as is everywhere else. No venues to play, tour plans cancelled...

2. How long have you been sheltering in place at this time?

Since about March 18.

3. What has been cancelled on you that you were looking forward to?

Shows and summer festivals that we were booked to play.

4. How have you been passing the time indoors?

Been writing like a madman. Creative juices have been flowing.

5. Loads of artists have been talking about how they're being creative. When the lockdown is over are ya gonna be ready to hit up the studio?

Ready to hit the studio? We are already in the studio. Been working on a few new singles. Been recoding at Fader Mountain (Formerly Little Mountain Sound) with producer Darren Grahn (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Cher, Black Eyed Peas, Monster Magnet etc)

6. What crazy projects have you been considering since you've been in quarantine?

Myself personally, Film Production. Just started doing it. Few projects have already been greenlit for Netflix

Pandemic Dispatches with Saints of Death

About three weeks ago, our new British Columbian friends, Saints of Death, released a ripping new record called Ascend To The Throne which you should be stuffing into your earhole right now.

BANCAMP LINK

Get that going while you're reading about how the boys in Vancouver are holding up during this global pandemic.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

We're pretty fortunate being from BC. 

Although we've been in quarantine like the rest of the world, BC has done a pretty good job of dealing with it compared to the other regions of our country. We just can't wait to get back to rehearsing, touring, and writing.

2. How long have you been sheltering in place at this time?

Pandemic Dispatches with Rebel Priest

Let's continue howling into the void of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Check out the latest release from Rebel Priest on BANDCAMP and in the meantime...

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

Canada has had a pretty lucky go, especially where we are in Vancouver BC. with a limited amount of cases and the new “phase 2” coming into action allowing bars and pubs to open has reopened social life for us here in BC. 

Although, we still don’t get live shows, the community has gotten together harder than I think I’ve ever seen it. Everyone is hungry, everyone is itchy… this is the type of zeitgeist we’re experiencing, the NEED for a show is brewing and coming soon!~

---

We sheltered collectively for about a month, one of the 3 of us was what was deemed an “essential worker” so he really got the short end of the stick. 

AND I’d say that whole on work/off work situation has been very complicated; but we’ve come together as a crew… knowing that we were able to rely on each other the same way we did, as we were on tour, relying on the simple chemistry of the band. 

It was super refreshing to deal with each other on such an honest level… that's bein’ a band baby!!

WORST QUESTION hahaha… for real tho, we as well as many other bands had so many things cancelled this year; we lost 2 Canadian tours this year and are waiting on baited breath for JAPAN, we’d love to go back or get to our buddies on the east side of our great country (Villain, Skullfist, Luger, etc)… 

Some great local shows, Flotsam and Jetsam was scheduled for May 28… haha the more I bring up , the less I’d like to do this question… Let's pass for now, are we allowed to pass it on to next year ??

Writing songs of course!! when your jam space is huge, and your only a 3 piece… you can social distance safely and rock out hard as well… 

We’re a clean and generally healthy bunch; can’t say we were to stressed here, to be honest… BC , especially, Vancouver has seemed to dodge the worst of COVID19 thus far...

Oh, the Priest is always ready… but on a less “band pragmatic stance” , we like to have fun, writing together is fun for us… we do the best working together, we simply took the time to find what worked the best.

I could answer this all day long

For real though, what do I splurge….. hmm well we’ve been cooking up a DVD, a TV show, a NEW album amongst MANY other ideas… with all the time, we’ve talked about going in about every direction we can think of going. let's take things to the next level

How do we build a scene?? let's take this thing to the next level, how do we progress past covid19? as a global/musical population??

Pandemic Dispatches with Feleth

Let's check in with another band on the lockdown train. Who else wishes all the selfish jerks would just mask up for a month and we could have this kicked?

Anyway, check out their SINGLE here.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

It’s going pretty well. We’re located in the middle of nowhere so the quarantining has been chill. We had about 3 weeks before cafés started opening, but they still don’t recommend going to them.

As of now luckily everyone affected by corona is healthy and recovered.

Pandemic Dispatches with Junkowl

Montreal seems to be the city where I'm getting the most pandemic dispatches.

Check out Junkowl on BANDCAMP and find out how they're coping below.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

I think things are starting to relax a bit here in Montreal, businesses are slowly starting to re-open and we’re now allowed small gatherings of people. 

Still no date set for the re-opening of bars or venues though.

2. How long have you been sheltering in place at this time?

I started self-isolating at the end of March, and just starting seeing some close friends, while still being careful. 

Pandemic Dispatches with Black Pestilence's Valax

Check out the latest record from Calgary's own, Black Pestilence.

It's all up there on BANDCAMP.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

After about two and a half months of quarantine, various provinces in Canada have lifted restrictions. 

This has resulted in the re-opening of various nonessential businesses and restaurants. 

Overall, I think Canada has reacted to the virus quickly and efficiently. 

Social distancing rules are still in effect but it is obvious that even in common places such as grocery stores, people are starting to not care as much. I am sure this is due to the fact that overall cases of the virus have started to decline significantly within Canada. 

The laws haven't been as strict as other countries (no mandatory masks, no curfew, no special ID cards, etc.) because most people, at least in Calgary, have been following the guidelines.

Pandemic Dispatches with Dyatlove

On May 29th, Dyatlove released their self-titled, debut EP, it comes it about a minute less than 1 Reign In Blood, via BANDCAMP.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

In Vancouver BC we have done quite well with the pandemic.

We are through phase 2 of reopening and are hoping to be at phase 3 by July.

With phase 2 retail stores are all back open, parks are up and running and restaurants and bars are open to limited capacity.

Pandemic Dispatches with Serene Dark

As I do on a mostly daily basis, it's time to check in with a death metal band hailing from Canada's capital city of Ottawa, Ontario.

Let's find out how Serene Dark is weathering the storm of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

While you're here, click on over to BANDCAMP.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

This were we live in Canada are slowly starting to get back to normal. The last 3 months have been kind of crazy, a lot of us were out of work.

Our drummer is an essential worker so he has been very burnt out.

Pandemic Dispatches with Paradise

We're all keeping on keeping on during this Pandemic. Let's check in with Paradise.

Isn't that precisely what we're all looking for right now? On a personal note, my family had our vacation canceled. As I type this, I should be driving back from Florida...had all gone like it was supposed to have...we'd probably be in Kentucky looking for Antique Malls bursting with records. 

Anyway, make sure you check out the BANDCAMP.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such. 

Well Here in Montreal One of the most badly hit cities in Canada, things are slowly opening up but there is little hope for indoor public gatherings, concerts, and such things.

Pandemic Dispatches with Oscar Souto of Anonymus

Let's check in with Anonymus. As their website is in French, I choose to believe that they are from the Northern Most reaches of PQ.

Now, if you want to be confused, their new record is in Spanish. I dunno. This is some David Lee Roth stuff right here.

Check our their video and read on to see how they're riding this all out.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

Well, I think we all live the same thing in the music business. Concerts and tours have been cancelled for everyone all around the world so it’s hard for every musician, promoter, and everybody working in the show business. 

Pandemic Dispatches with Evertrapped

Welp...It was cool talking about Montreal earlier, we're doing it again with Evertrapped. Stream their latest Melo-Death offering on BANDCAMP.

Or kick them a Looney and buy it.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

Things here are starting to open up a bit. I think a lot of people are just getting together and no one's really bothering anyone else about it too much these days. 

The laws are not surprising but to a certain extent when I hear things like other people calling the cops on folks they see hanging out in a park or whatever is a bit much. 

And then some of these people getting ridiculous tickets just for hanging out at their own risk. So in that regard, it can be a bit much but it doesn't seem that bad now.

Pandemic Dispatches with Gary of Nuclear Winter

Today Gary Stautemeister of Nuclear Winter is reaching out to us from behind the wall of quarantine.

Check out his upcoming EP on BANDCAMP.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

It's not been too bad here. The lockdown has been fairly relaxed and luckily there were no major shortages of anything in the shops. 

Normally people here panic buy for any little reason but surprisingly that hasn't happened. Hopefully we'll move to an even more relaxed lockdown soon.

2. How long have you been sheltering in place at this time?

The lockdown started at the begining of April.. but from the start we were able to travel around. 

We just had to avoid certain areas, like the city centre.

Pandemic Dispatches with Solar Flare

Another day and another band I'm checking in with. In the days of our current pandemic, I just want to make some connections.

Check out their BANDCAMP.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

Pretty ok for the most part. They’re opening up some places. Unfortunately shows are still weird and up in the air for now. Hopefully we can get back out soon!

2. How long have you been sheltering in place at this time?

Since sometime in the middle of March. It’s such a weird crazy time we’re in.

3. What has been cancelled on you that you were looking forward to?

Pandemic Dispatches with Torizon

Time for another check in. Today's Pandemic Dispatch features, Torizon from Brisbane, Australia.

Check their BANDCAMP.

1. How are things going where you are? The laws and such.

The laws are different in each Australian state and it’s starting to feel like each state is it’s own separate country.

Although the restrictions may seem harsh to some, they have had an incredible effect on curbing the spread of covid 19. Our numbers are low with zero transmission and no new cases for days or weeks in some areas.

Pandemic Dispatches with Brandy and the Butcher

In today's Pandemic Dispatch, I'm checking in with Columbia, SC's Brandy and the Butcher. Over the years, they've dropped singles and EPs. Right now, their debut LP is being pressed in Athens, GA.

Check it out on BANDCAMP.

1. How are things going where you are? 

Slowly opening back up now- bars are reopening but not for live music yet. 

We aren't planning to play until September we tentatively have some shows with Emily and the Blackouts and Voodoo Glow Skulls.  

2. How long have you been sheltering in place at this time?