Much respect is also due to the following companies for physically making our CDs, T-Shirts and LPs, respectively: (links go to myspace accounts)
* Icon Omnimedia * Mammoth Printshop * Pirates PressA few releases available as "digital download" only through Robotic Empire:
Miami, Florida's CAPSULE are a pummeling trio and this 13-track compilation collects all of their released material prior to their debut album, Blue. Originally released across a limited cassette, 7" vinyl record and a tour-only CD-R, these songs show the excellent progression from CAPSULE's demo up to their debut album. Mathematically intense hardcore/punk/grind with stop-start precision and a confusing conglomeration of crashing percussion, squealing guitarwork and a myriad of buried, blurry vocal shouts. An intense ride, and a great collection of CAPSULE's initial works.
ENEMY SOIL was a long-running, grinding monster who's members eventually went on to form or join PIG DESTROYER, AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED, DRUGS OF FAITH, PG.99, CITY OF CATERPILLAR, FRODUS, BATTLETORN and many, many more. The epitome of "underground", this massive collection is their swansong to blistering grindcore, with almost everything they ever recorded and/or released (except for one a 7" on Relapse), plus a fistful of previously unreleased tracks. From their humble (yet crucial) drum-machine origins, to the behemoth of a full-band they would eventually become... the sheer variety (and quantity) of punk, metal, grind, industrial and more collected here is downright impressive. With 72 tracks over nearly two hours, this is an epic homage to the mighty ENEMY SOIL!
The debut from VANESSA VAN BASTEN, the duo that utilizes guests and contributors from the alternative and extreme Italian underground. This is how they describe themselves: "We make slow, heavy, metaphysic instrumental music. Our influences are the cosmic psychedelia, industrial rock like SWANS or GODFLESH, Neurot & Hydrahead catalogue." Basically, they take a lot of elements from a lot of great bands and re-work the styles into a captivating new whole. This is their humble debut, a powerful indication of their potential and the great things to come!
Incredible Italian duo VANESSA VAN BASTEN walk in the same footsteps as JESU, ISIS, NEUROSIS and PELICAN without totally jocking their styles. Very anthemic but not cliché, these guys would easily be a household name here if they were only FROM here. Seriously though, this stuff is intense! La Stanza Di Swedenborg is their stunning first full-length release, with eight tracks total.
Two years after the critically acclaimed La Stanza di Swedenborg, VANESSA VAN BASTEN returns with two brand new epic tracks combined on this beautiful EP, which was written by all band members. This heavy Italian postrock ensemble does not constrict itself to the laws of some Great Postrock Bible. Instead it blends in psychedelia, ambient influences, metal and shoegaze to result in a unique musical experience. Dreamlike and cinematographic sounds collide with heavy and dark sonic assaults: the music is incredibly crafted and reveals more of its intrinsic beauty every time it is being played. VANESSA VAN BASTEN has kept their DIY attitude as the tracks were recorded in the rehearsal room and at home with the aid of a technician and feature the same human drummer that toured with the band in the past (no more computer drums this time). Incredible and intense material from one of Europe's best underground bands.
OUT NOW:
* A STORM OF LIGHT / NADJA - Primitive North [split] 2x12"+CD (both formats together) - OUT NOW!
* BAD SECRETS - Self-Titled 9"+CD (both formats together) - OUT NOW!
* DIAL - Self-Titled CDep - OUT NOW!
* MEDUSA - En Raga Sul Cassette - OUT NOW!
COMING NEXT:
* ACROSS TUNDRAS - Old World Wanderer 12"+CD (both formats together) - February
* CAPSULE - Tape + Demo + Tour + More (collection) 12" - February?
* FLOOR - 10xLP+1x7"+8xCDs BOX SET!!! - hopefully late 2009!
* PYGMY LUSH / THOU - Split 12"+CD - sometime in 2010
* TIDELAND - Asleep In The Graveyard 12" (& CD?) - February?
* YOUNG WIDOWS - Live at WMUC 12" - February?
* other cool stuff to-be-announced
*** we don't typically do pre-orders for our releases, so please just keep an eye on our Online Store for availability. thanks. ***
Robotic Empire is a record label based out of both Richmond, VA and mailorder operation based out of Olympia, WA that's main goal is to help independent/alternative music fans hear some of the finest and most creative groups playing today. Whether that pertains to heavy metal, instrumental music, indie rock, etc., we are proud to work with some of the underground's finest bands who we're honored to know. Please take a minute to check out our constantly updated online store & never-updated video page:
NOTE TO BANDS: we appreciate all of the hard work and excitement that goes into forming a solid band (we've been there ourselves), but at this time we are not looking to pick up any new artists / releases. thank you for the interest though! we do not book shows either, sorry.
NEW TO OUR ONLINE STORE:DIAL - Self-Titled CDep ($4.99)
The old expression "like a ton of bricks" doesn't even come close here. The weight of a mountain is what DIAL drops on you with their absolutely crushing 5-song debut EP. The austere New Zealand outfit originally self-released this as a demo, but the material contained within is leaps and bounds beyond what most bands accomplish even at their best. DIAL successfully channels the darkest corners of the AmRep catalog, the raw ferocity of classic hardcore, offtime kilter of math-rock, and the whole concept that music can actually be dangerous.
The air-tight composure of DIAL's debut recording is striking; focusing more on space and dissonance than technical shreddery. Obscenely heavy guitars collide with bludgeoning percussion and intense, vicious and scathing female vocals... turning the whole thing into a downright terrifying experience. Add an incredibly crisp recording, and this makes DIAL's debut EP one of the most impressive demos we've heard in years, let alone had the privilege to re-release.
major pressure on you Mista Ballou for the "Sic[Sic]" / "Mother Spain and the Wayfairing Myth" rerelease. I got my copy of the cd jacked in Arkansas. love for nature choking on a wad of Keep Austin Weird adhesive, the kind that comes with stickers underneath the peelies. you know how hard to find that shit is. thanks for keeping me up to date. Joel had said he was trying to find the master to send to you, or didn't know where it was at. keep hope alive. I was pressing the "s" button then. mmm, aight? make them eat our water treatment. I want that on cd though. Its like the Anomie tape that never got released they threw out in the crowd and never sang "I EXPECTORATE" at their finale with New Year and 1066. I'm working with Max on picquing interest in those fields, of slabbing Anomie masters, or shit even using a component system to dub a cassette with those two vinyl releases. We need our Employer, Employee. We need our Anomie. Who's even heard that shit anyway except for Robert Mann and Jay Sauder? major idyosyncratic capitalization here. by God make your punk metal idyosyncratic punctuality more punctual please. they reinvented a lot for a Texan. I can't even.
Kraken's artwork for the next album is finally done, and going under pressing in the next week. You can already pre order the cd on our webstore!!!! The cds will be shipped as soon as we get it! 4 songs are up on Kraken's myspace!!
Cannabis Corpse Alley Katz 10 Walnut Alley Richmond, VA Doors Open @ 6pm October 1, 2009 @ 8pm CD Release / US Tour Kickoff Show w/ Tombs, Infernal Stronghold, Syndrome ($8)
The vinyl for JAVELINA'S sophomore album Beasts Among Sheep is now available!! The press is limited to 500 copies, with 300 on Black Ash and 200 on Scorched Red. Pick one up for only $9.99 HERE!!
Hey Game Core is in 2 weeks on Saturday September 12th! Its gonna be a nerd party. Come out and play games see MC Lars, Celebrate the Dreamcasts Birthday and more!
The wait is finally over! After an entire year of punishing their lungs with skull crushing bong hits CANNABIS CORPSE have returned with yet another fresh hit of over the top T.H.C. soaked old school DEATH METAL entitled "The Weeding".
Four new tracks that are sure to get even the most jaded headbanger out there high as shit. Returning members Landphil (Municipal Waste) on Bass, Weedgrinder (Battlemaster) on the mic, Nickropolis (Parasytic) on guitar and Hallhammer on drums never stop their relentless assault of real deal no bullshit Death Metal that will take you into the darkest corners of their twisted stoner imaginations.
Recorded in their hometown of Richmond, VA @ H.M.C. Studios and mastered at Mammoth Sound (Ghoul, Impaled) "The Weeding" is the next step in complete pot lobotomy. Featuring insane cover art by one of the sickest artists in the metal underground, Andrei Bouzikov (Municipal Waste, Skeleton Witch), the package is complete. Available in October on 12", CD, digital and "Die Hard Pro Stoner" edition (details tba) fr
