Revelation and Against Nature

 

News 2007

Find out what's going on with Against Nature and Revelation.

12.14.07

Leaf Hound Records has re-released the debut Revelation CD "Salvation's Answer." The disc comes with the bonus track "Blessed Realm," originally on Rise Above Records' "Dark Passages" compilation, and a video from a cable television show from 1992. The re-release of "Never Comes Silence" is also still available. Click here to buy the CDs from the Leaf Hound Records web site.

At shows in 2008, Against Nature will be playing an entirely different selection of songs from those we've played over the past two years. We'll concentrate on songs from "Unfolded," "Much in Little," and "Descend," along with excerpts from "The Anxiety of Influence." Visit our Setlists page for past sets.

12.07.07

Bland Hand Records is making available a compilation of music, by bands such as Penance, Madking Ludwig, Hazard County Girls, and others, for the benefit of Beth Jobe, owner and program director of Tundra Trash Radio. Beth recently suffered a series of strokes, and she and her family's finances are strained from her hospital expenses. Download the compilation and make a donation to Beth's family here.

12.06.07

An announcement from Argus:

"We’re very happy and proud to announce Argus has joined Emissary Records to release their debut album.
After a magnificent demo debut in 2007, Argus will enter studio to record their Self-Titled debut album. The powerful voice of Butch Balich (ex-Penance) plus Kevin Latchaw (Drums), Jason Mucio (Guitar), Andy Ramage (Bass) and Mike Wisniewski (Guitar) makes of Argus a band that will bring new and fresh blood to the Yankee Doom Metal Scene! Don’t miss this band, it’s what comes in the next step of heavy music, for sure it will crush your bones! Release dates and artworks will be published in the next days Keep an eye open for these killer releases, all of them will come in Die-Hard limited edition as well."

11.20.07

Bland Hand Records has made available for free download the debut full-length release, "The Mentally Ill," by Germany's Tortured Spirit.

11.12.07

It's been a busy month: two tours, recording, hosting friends. Now we're back to recording. We'll finish the next Against Nature releases and make them available in December, and we'll record the the Revelation record as well. We've also begun talking about an Ogre/Against Nature tour of Europe in late 2008.

10.11.07

Our next release, "Descend," was to have been one record with 10 new songs. However, we're decided that the songs make more artistic sense as two closely-knit groups, so we're releasing this new recording as two "EPs."

Designations such as "LP" or "EP" are all but obsolete today, a leftover from the days of vinyl speeds and lengths, and record labels' decisions about how to market longer- or shorter-playing records. "LP" and "EP" are marketing decisions, and we want nothing to do with that. Besides, when does an EP become an LP if the medium is a CD? What do such designations mean if the music is on-line as computer files meant to be downloaded? Our answers to these questions are "the line was always blurry" and "nothing." Therefore, we will release our next recording as two shorter-length artistic wholes, "Descend" and "Much in Little," both due out in December.

10.07.07

Bland Hand Records will soon release the debut CD, "The Mentally Ill," by Germany's Tortured Spirit as a free download. CDs will also be available directly from the band and through the Bland Hand web site. Tortured Spirit features guitarist and singer Thorsten Frahling, also known as the Hellride Forums regular contributor "Reverend Odd." "The Mentally Ill" is mixed and produced by John Brenner and features guest contributions by Brenner (lead guitar) and by Butch Balich (vocals), current singer for Argus.

10.03.07

The Chowder CD/EP is now available for free download.

09.29.07

The Against Nature release "Unfolded" is now available for free download.

09.24.07

Bland Hand Records has released the Dwell Within demo "Monkshood" for free download. Dwell Within, from Oklahoma, features Dennis Cornelius (ex-Oversoul, Revelation, and Place of Skulls) and Launch Pad Patric (ex-Oversoul).

Two more Music by and for Poets and Fascists recordings from 1999, "Swelter" and "Set Pounds," are now available for download.

Work on the Against Nature release "Unfolded" is nearly complete; the record will be released for download this week. We will have CDs available for our UK tour in October. Also, we've begun recording the final Against Nature release of the year, "Descend." We plan to release this record in late November or early December.

All of the songs for next year's Revelation record "Release," on Leaf Hound Records, are finished. We'll begin rehearsals for the recording in mid-November and record it in December.

09.11.07

Bland Hand Records has released the Oversoul "Demo 1999" as a free download. Oversoul featured Dennis Cornelius (ex-Revelation and ex-Place of Skulls) on guitar, bass, and vocals and Launch Pad Patric on drums. The band later released the CD "Seven Days in November."

The Chowder debut CD/EP on Bland Hand Records is now available here. Visit www.myspace.com/chowderbaltimore for sounds and more information.

08.30.07

The new Revelation record, due to be released on Leaf Hound Records in early 2008, will be titled "Release." Our plan is to record it in December of this year.

Due to many problems with the physical media of the master, the Chowder CD has been delayed. However, we're expecting the discs back from the pressing plant in about a week.

08.08.07

Private Tape 1992 is now available for free download. This are my final 4-track recordings before leaving Revelation in early 1993. -John

07.29.07

A new release for Revelation is now available named Paleontology. These songs are from the earliest days of Bert and John playing covers to John's 4-track home recordings of Revelation demos, all from 1983-1992. Everything is available, as are all Bland Hand releases, for free download.

07.19.07

The Chowder CD on Bland Hand Records will be released within the next few weeks. I finished the mixing and production this week. -JB

06.28.07

There is another Music by and for Poets and Fascists release available for download, entitled "Tape's Last Krapp."

06.25.07

Bland Hand Records, this summer, will be releasing a CD and free download from Chowder, which features former Revelation and Unorthodox member Josh Hart. Recording is underway.

06.12.07

Writing for the new Revelation release is underway. I have about 5 songs completed for the record, and Josh and Bert will be contributing ideas as well. So far, I think the music sounds like a continuation of "Never Comes Silence." Our plan is to record it in December. As of yet, I don't have a title for it. -JB

06.06.07

A good friend of ours has produced sharp-looking Revelation patches and is selling them for $5 each. Visit here for information.

05.26.07

The basic tracks for "Unfolded" are now recorded and awaiting the vocal tracks.

I've been struggling with the concept of our next release (after "Unfolded"), trying to wed the feel of the music and lyrics with the cover art and title. So I've decided to name the release "Descend," a title I think expresses where my head and heart are at the moment. This means the concept and music for "Empire Against Art" are pushed back again, possibly until 2008, after our final release of 2007, "Action at a Distance."  -JB

05.06.07

Friends,
The Doom or Be Doomed Festival and the Revelation re-releases by Toreno and Leaf Hound Records have changed many of the ideas we previously held about our musical past, present, and future. So we've made some decisions and have a few announcements to make.

Dennis and I have spoken extensively about this over the past few years, but I've put off making a decision until recently. Toreno and I have been talking about a possible small tour in Japan next year for Revelation to promote the three re-releases. We've also been talking about a new Revelation record on Leaf Hound, also for a release sometime in 2008.

In the past, before DoBD, I would not even have considered a reborn "original line-up" of Revelation. But I think the time and the timing is right for this now.

So Revelation is reborn. Of course, this causes problems as to the line-up. The re-releases include both Bert and Josh on bass guitar on their respective Revelation records. We've decided that Bert will play bass and Josh will play second guitar on any releases and at any shows we may play. If we tour in Japan, or anywhere else, we will play songs from the first two records and perhaps a new song or two.

What does this mean for Against Nature? Nothing changes: We three (Bert, Steve, and I) will continue to play shows and release 3-4 records a year, as we're doing now. We'll continue to release everything for free as downloads on our web site. Revelation will be a limited venture, with only occasional shows and releases, none of which will be on Bland Hand Records for now.

What will be the difference between Against Nature and the reborn Revelation? That's a difficult question to answer. Josh's second guitar in Revelation will change the sound and provide us opportunities for live music (harmonies, double lead guitar, and such) that we never had in the past and don't have with Against Nature at gigs. Against Nature will continue to play down-tuned, with a simpler drum set-up, and explore the full range of sounds and keys available to us (as we do now). Revelation will tune to Eb, as on the Never Comes Silence record, and sound like Revelation. I will also probably aim for the guitar sound I used to use in Revelation. The sound of each band will differ in at least these three respects. How the songs themselves will differ between the two bands, I don't know right now. I've already begun to write for the new Revelation record, and to me the songs don't sound like Against Nature; they sound like Revelation.

All of this may appear confusing. But we refuse to follow "rules," and we do what we think is best for us as friends and musicians. All four of us are incredibly excited about the future and to play and record under the name Revelation once again.

Finally, none of this news means that the Dennis/Steve/Jim line-up never existed or that we are ignoring it. The re-vamped Revelation will not play songs from the ...Yet So Far period of the band because those are Dennis's songs and not mine.

I have only praise for Dennis, Steve, and Jim. Steve, in particular, deserves credit for holding Revelation together for so long and never losing faith in the band. ...Yet So Far is still one of my favorite doom metal releases, and all of the music Dennis, Steve, and Jim wrote together is beautiful and inspiring. They were responsible for renewing interest in the original Revelation, for making new contacts all over the world, and for bringing Revelation's music to a wider audience. Nothing can diminish their accomplishment. I give my heartfelt thanks to each of them for making great new music and for keeping the old music alive.

A few years ago, Revelation was to have comprised Dennis, me, Steve, and Jim, but there were too many barriers in the way. The ...Yet So Far version of Revelation declined due to musical circumstances, due to the physical distance between the members, due to any number of conditions. The band was doomed endlessly to wallow...or could continue in a new (old) form.

The tour and new record plans with Leaf Hound are tentative, now discussed only as possiblities. We still have many details to work out, and Leaf Hound has a busy year and schedule ahead. But both Toreno and we want to make this happen. We'll work as hard as we can to make it happen, for everyone who has enjoyed the music of Revelation as much as for us. In a very real way, DoBD made this happen. You made it happen.

Cheers,
John

05.03.07

We are finally going to record our release entitled "Unfolded" this weekend. "Unfolded" features seven originals and a cover of The Obsessed's "Hiding Mask," all with Butch Balich offering his incredible talents as vocalist. We're hoping for a June release for free download and possibly on CD.

Also, the October tour in the U.K., with Warning and The River, is shaping up, with several confirmed dates. We'll post tour details as soon as we can. The opening night of the tour, in London, will feature U.K. legends Pagan Altar as the headliner. Holy hell.

05.01.07

Bland Hand Records is proud to make the debut recording of Pittsburgh, Pa's Argus available for free download. Argus features Butch Balich (formerly of Penance) on vocals, with a cast of excellent musicians. Tell your friends!

04.27.07

We've added a few songs to the Miscellaneous page.

04.25.07

Thank you to all of the bands, fans, family, and friends who made the Doom or Be Doomed Festival a huge success. The festival was a life-changing and life-affirming event for me in many ways. I hope that everyone who played and attended had a wonderful time.

JB

03.31.07

We've been busy lately rehearsing three sets for the Doom or Be Doomed festival (2 Revelation, 1 Against Nature), and that's been our focus for nearly 3 months. The 2 Revelations will play most of the songs from the first two releases, and Against Nature will play a selection of songs from all 6 releases. Revelation will also have a small number of festival shirts to sell at DoBD.

The Against Nature "Leer/Ghosting" and "The Anxiety of Influence" CDs are back from the pressing plant. We're releasing them first at the Doom or Be Doomed festival and then through our web site. You can still download them for free here.

After the festival ado dies down, Against Nature will begin rehearsing songs for our 7th release, "Empire Against Art." We are also playing a short tour in England and Ireland in October with Warning and The River. Other bands will also play on select bills during the tour, including Lamp of Thoth and Church of Misery in Leeds, UK.

  • The following is taken from a press release from Leaf Hound Records concerning the Revelation re-releases:

One of the most thought after Doom Metal album 'Never Comes Silence', which is scheduled to be released by Leaf Hound Records on May 15th 2007, was originally released from now legendary Doom metal label Hellhound Records in 1993.

Revelation was one of the classic Hellhound bands of the early 90's, due to both their old-school doom style and their origin, being part of a healthy DC doom scene that featured Internal Void, Unorthodox, and several others.

Leaf Hound Records will also be reissuing a collection of the band's earlier works. Both 'Unreleased Album' and 'Salvation's Answer', which was originally released from Rise Above Records, will be available in June 2007.

'Unreleased Album' will be released on limited vinyl with rare photos with liner notes. 'Salvation's Answer' feature bonus materials, exclusive live performances.
 

03.30.07

Bland Hand Records will host the debut music from Pittsburgh, PA band Argus for free download in the coming weeks. Argus features Butch Balich, former singer for Penace, and a cast of talented musicians playing heavy music that fits perfectly with the Bland Hand philosophy. We're honored to host the excellent music of Argus.

02.24.07

Our latest release, "The Anxiety of Influence," is now available for free download.

02.14.07

It seems that a number of people want to own Against Nature releases on official CDs, regardless of whether the releases are also available for free download. Admittedly, this number is small, but we want as many people as possible to have access to our music, in whatever format they choose.

So, we've decided to release a two-for-one CD of "Ghosting" and "Leer" in an edition limited to 100 copies, 50 signed and 50 unsigned. We will do the same thing for our upcoming release "The Anxiety of Influence." These, as were "Appease" and "Safe Dissonance," will be officially pressed CDs with color covers, packaged in poly sleeves, and will not be re-issued once the limited pressings are sold. Both will available for a low price.

Beginning this week, all of our Bland Hand Records releases, including "Appease" and "Safe Dissonance," will also be available for free download on our web site, as mp3s.

Thus, everyone will have three options for each release:
1. Download the music for free.
2. Download the music and donate money for it, in any amount.
3. Buy the music on CD.

We encourage everyone to share our music, no matter where you obtained it: trade it to friends, post it to blogs, upload it to websites, share it on P2P networks. Our philosophy since the beginning for Bland Hand Records has been "Music for Everyone."

Cheers,
John, Bert, Steve

02.13.07

The Against Nature CD "Safe Dissonance" is now SOLD OUT on CD. Thank you to everyone who purchased a copy!