Robotic Empire

Bullshit from a longrunning record label run by a small group of weirdos.

[roboticempire]

City of Caterpillar has digitally released archival recordings from 2001/2002, including a lost song tracked during their self-titled album sessions but initially shelved due to vinyl length limitations. "As the Curtains Dim; (little white lie)" is released at the same time as two songs from the split 7" with pg99, remastered in 2016 & available for the first time across all main digital services: Bandcamp - https://thearchivistlabel.bandcamp.com/ iTunes - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/artist/city-of-caterpillar/id14942896?app=itunes Apple Music - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/artist/city-of-caterpillar/id14942896?mt=1&app=music Amazon Music - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SQ0UBPU Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/music/artist/City_of_Caterpillar?id=Aas66nbqfoo7zvzzqukm36ofatq Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6zRqJkcK9YW5muISa2kwZR This accompanies the announcement of five additional reunion shows in January 2017. New shows in Richmond, Boston, Rochester, Chicago and Detroit now have tickets available at the following locations: Thur. Jan. 12: Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Malady & Virginia Creep - ON SALE @ https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1370167 Fri. Jan. 13: Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Bermuda Triangles & Big No - SOLD OUT Sat. Jan. 14: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas w/ Pinkwash & HIRS - SOLD OUT Sun. Jan. 15: Washington, DC @ Black Cat w/ Pygmy Lush & Malady - SOLD OUT Mon. Jan. 16: NYC @ Saint Vitus w/ Big Hush & Ghastly City Sleep - SOLD OUT Tues. Jan. 17: NYC @ Saint Vitus w/ Virginia Creep, Suppression & Skulk Kits - SOLD OUT Wed. Jan. 18: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall w/ The Saddest Landscape & Kindling - ON SALE @ http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/01005169CF155D21 Thurs. Jan. 19: Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar w/ Green Dream & Coming Down - ON SALE @ https://www.universe.com/events/city-of-caterpillar-reunion-tour-w-green-dreams-coming-down-bug-jar-tickets-2FPJL0 Fri. Jan. 20: Detroit, MI @ El Club w/ Reverend & Touch - ON SALE @ https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1382665 Sat. Jan. 21: Chicago, IL @ Reggies w/ Planes Mistaken For Stars - ON SALE @ https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1377027

[roboticempire]

One month after announcing their first live performances in 13 years, City of Caterpillar unveil an unreleased song and additional reunion shows in Richmond, Boston, Rochester, Detroit & Chicago for January 2017. These five dates have been added to the previously announced (now sold out) reunion shows, with all ticketing info available on the Robotic Empire website - http://www.roboticempire.com Thur. Jan. 12: Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Malady & Virginia Creep Fri. Jan. 13: Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Bermuda Triangles & Big No - SOLD OUT Sat. Jan. 14: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas w/ Pinkwash & HIRS - SOLD OUT Sun. Jan. 15: Washington, DC @ Black Cat w/ Pygmy Lush & Malady - SOLD OUT Mon. Jan. 16: NYC @ Saint Vitus w/ Big Hush & Ghastly City Sleep - SOLD OUT Tues. Jan. 17: NYC @ Saint Vitus w/ Virginia Creep, Suppression & Skulk Kits - SOLD OUT Wed. Jan. 18: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall w/ The Saddest Landscape & Kindling Thurs. Jan. 19: Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar w/ Green Dream & Coming Down Fri. Jan. 20: Detroit, MI @ El Club w/ Reverend & Touch Sat. Jan. 21: Chicago, IL @ Reggies w/ Planes Mistaken For Stars Also premiering today via NPR, is a long lost song recorded during the band's self-titled album sessions but shelved due to vinyl length limitations. 14+ years later, "As the Curtains Dim; (little white lie)" is now available to listen via NPR's 'All Songs Considered' segment, who called the song "classic City Of Caterpillar, set in a heavy and gloomy groove... scattered by jigsaw puzzle melodies and droning overtones". Read / listen here: http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/11/13/501595372/hear-city-of-caterpillars-previously-unreleased-song-as-the-curtains-dim "As the Curtains Dim; (little white lie)" will be available everywhere this Friday, November 18th. Digital pre-orders are now live: https://thearchivistlabel.bandcamp.com In addition, two early City of Caterpillar recordings originally released on 'A Split Personality' split 7" with pg.99 have finally been mastered, also set for digital release everywhere this Friday with pre-orders available here: https://thearchivistlabel.bandcamp.com #cityofcaterpillar

[roboticempire]

old dawgs DAUGHTERS are slaying the west coast RIGHT NOW with THE BODY and LOMA PRIETA. get amongst it! http://www.bandsintown.com/Daughters #daughtersband

[roboticempire]

Big ups to @metal_injection for spotlighting the new @virginiacreep EP. Read in full here - http://www.metalinjection.net/av/pig-destroyers-frontman-has-a-punky-new-band-called-virginia-creep

[roboticempire]

Our dudes Virginia Creep drop their first EP today, and we're stoked to present this debut bruiser to ya: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/1eYC1SfEV3bvDlnycQ4CTp iTunes - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/virginia-creep-ep/id1153767804?app=itunes Bandcamp - https://roboticempire.bandcamp.com/album/virginia-creep-ep Cassette w/ Sticker + Download - https://www.roboticempire.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=6565 All veterans of underground/independent music, Virginia Creep treads new territory for the band members with a left-of-center, haunting & melodic approach. Their self-titled first offering ranges the spectrum of rock, punk, grung and hardcore within just three songs. Photo by Hanna Stevens #virginiacreep #pigdestroyer #tideland #roboticempire

[roboticempire]

Tickets to the opening show for City of Caterpillar's reunion in January are now on sale: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1370167 Taking place Thursday January 12th 2017 in the band's formative hometown of Richmond Virginia, the supporting bands will be Malady and Virginia Creep. Tickets are $15, attendance is 18+ and the venue is Strange Matter. An event page can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/199727067131331 All previously announced shows have sold out within hours, so may be best to act quickly if interested. #cityofcaterpillar #reunion #malady #maladyband #virginiacreep

[roboticempire]

Alternative noise rock quartet Virginia Creep announce the stream of their debut EP today via the All Music site. Set for widespread release this Friday October 28th, All Music is running an advance premiere of the full EP now: http://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/album-premiere-virginia-creep-ep Virginia Creep's self-titled EP is being released by longtime collaborators Robotic Empire, who have previously worked with members' other outfits Pig Destroyer and Tideland. The first official recordings from the band will be available on both cassette and digitally, with pre-orders live now at the following locations: iTunes - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/virginia-creep-ep/id1153767804?app=itunes Bandcamp - https://roboticempire.bandcamp.com/album/virginia-creep-ep Cassette - https://www.roboticempire.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=6565 Virginia Creep's first single 'Vortex' recently premiered via The AV Club, who sited "while it members have a pedigree on the more extreme end of heavy music, ”Vortex” is wholly concerned with taking simple riff and twisting it in as many different directions as possible, snagging everything it can into its swirling orbit". Brooklyn Vegan also noted the track as "haunting, ever-shifting... a kind of sludgy, southern-tinged post-hardcore that would have fit right in on Touch and Go in the 90s". 'Vortex' is available now across all digital platforms with the band's official verified Spotify profile currently touting a band-curated 'Influences' playlist. In addition, Virginia Creep has been selected to perform alongside the long-awaited return of post-hardcore legends City of Caterpillar early next year, supporting the reunited group on two shows: Thursday, January 12th 2017 - Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Malady - https://www.facebook.com/events/199727067131331/ Tuesday, January 17th 2017 - Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus w/ Suppression & Skulk Kits (Brandon solo) - https://www.facebook.com/events/1118150438270980/

[roboticempire]

An additional, opening RVA show has been announced for City of Caterpillar on Thursday January 12th, 2017 w/ Malady & Virginia Creep: https://www.facebook.com/events/199727067131331 Tickets on sale Tuesday at 12pm: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1370167 #cityofcaterpillar #reunion #malady #maladyband #virginiacreep #richmond

[roboticempire]

It's been over 7 years since Daughters last hit the road, and after many ups and downs (plus two Nirvana covers later) we are thrilled to announce the Providence boys are back in action and officially on tour as of today. The full lot of east coast shows are sold out, but folks out west can still grab tickets over at http://bandsintown.com/daughters Here are all current Daughters live dates: 10/20 Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus - SOLD OUT 10/21 Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus - SOLD OUT 10/22 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's - SOLD OUT 10/23 Allston, MA @ Great Scott - SOLD OUT 10/23 Allston, MA @ Great Scott - SOLD OUT 11/06 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar * 11/07 Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Tap Room * 11/08 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex * 11/09 San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside - SOLD OUT * 11/11 Portland, OR @ Ash Street * 11/12 Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt * 11/13 Seattle, WA @ Highline * * with The Body, Loma Pieta To celebrate, we have pressed up an expanded cassette reissue of Daughters debut album, Canada Songs, now with their first 4-song EP now included as an added bonus. With a full-color double-sided insert and high quality digital download included, Canada Songs + EP is now available to order via our Online Store: https://www.roboticempire.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=6566 #daughters #daughtersband #canadasongs

[roboticempire]

Tickets go on sale today at 12pm EST for City of Caterpillar, Pygmy Lush, and Malady at the Black Cat in Washington DC on Sunday, January 15th. NYC, Philly and Richmond shows are already sold out, so best not to snooze on it. 14 years ago was the last time City of Caterpillar played DC and Malady’s last show was in this same room 12 years ago to the month. Cost is $15. Admission is All Ages. Tickets available here: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1361287?utm_medium=bks #cityofcaterpillar #pygmylush #malady #maladyband

[roboticempire]

Over a dozen years after disbanding, the long defunct City of Caterpillar announce a string of reunion shows for early 2017. The quartet initially formed in Richmond, Virginia in 2000, carving out a handful of demos and EPs before releasing their sole, self-titled album in 2002. Renown for an innovative combination of punk rock, emotional hardcore and dramatic instrumental crescendos, City of Caterpillar disbanded in late 2003 but went on to endure a postmortem legacy shared by few of their peers. Posthumously, Pitchfork referred to them as a band "who successfully blended abstract-rock with hardcore immediacy" while Vice's music outlet Noisey recently revisited the group in a lengthy retrospective feature ( https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/city-of-caterpillar-retrospective ), saying that City of Caterpillar "encompassed an era" and "strangled...stretched, and mutated screamo until it reflected both the shattering chaos and the eerie quietude of its time". In 2015, renewed interest in the band grew with digital reissues of their LP and Demo + Live Recording collection, followed by a 2016 vinyl reissue of the landmark self-tited LP. Performing for the first time in 13 years with their classic lineup of Brandon Evans (guitar/vocals), Kevin Longendyke (bass/vocals), Jeff Kane (guitar) and Ryan Parrish (drums), City of Caterpillar have scheduled four East Coast shows with a slew of longtime friends' bands supporting: Friday, January 13th 2017 - Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Bermuda Triangles, Big No Saturday, January 14th 2017 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas w/ HIRS, Pinkwash Sunday, January 15th 2017 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage w/ Pygmy Lush, Malady Monday, January 16th 2017 - Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus w/ Big Hush, Ghastly City Sleep Tickets for all shows are available via: Richmond - https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1363637?utm_medium=bks Philadelphia - https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1360923?utm_medium=bks (tickets on sale 12pm EST) DC - https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1361287?utm_medium=bks (tickets on sale Thursday, 12pm EST) Brooklyn - https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1363711?utm_medium=bks

[roboticempire]

Virginia Creep's debut single "Vortex" is now live across all key digital services: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/5qFBx9qAWIeYiEyRyG7oZH Apple Music - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/vortex/id1153767804?i=1153767864&mt=1&app=music Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Virginia-Creep/dp/B01LWNFK6F Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Virginia_Creep_Vortex?id=Boj4qnh6wr7ifbh6bv3j7hwqh2e iTunes - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/virginia-creep-ep/id1153767804?app=itunes Bandcamp - https://roboticempire.bandcamp.com/album/virginia-creep-ep Comprised of veterans from Tideland, Pig Destroyer and more, this rock beast's first EP is dropping in two weeks both digitally and on cassette. You can Pre-order the tape here: https://www.roboticempire.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=6565 #virginiacreep #vortex #grunge #noiserock #alternative #pigdestroyer #tideland #nova #virginia

[roboticempire]

Born in the sprawling suburban wastelands on the outskirts of Washington DC, Virginia Creep emerge from an unexpected hotbed of forward-thinking subversive artists. With a rich lineage that includes bloodlines as diverse as Tideland, Pig Destroyer, A Papier Mache Monster, Nit Pic & many more, Virginia Creep sound as appropriately bipolar as the myriad divisions surrounding them. A formidable beast spanning a multitude of heavy rock sub-genres, the forthcoming debut EP from this new quartet merges the wide ranging backgrounds and influences of J.R. Hayes (vocals), Aaron Mason (guitar), Ben Tufts (drums) and Christopher Wright (bass). All veterans of underground/independent music, Virginia Creep treads new territory for the band members with a left-of-center, haunting melodic approach. Their self-titled first offering ranges the spectrum of rock, punk, grunge and hardcore within just three songs. Opening track "Vortex" is now streaming via The AV Club, who said "while it members have a pedigree on the more extreme end of heavy music, ”Vortex” is wholly concerned with taking simple riff and twisting it in as many different directions as possible, snagging everything it can into its swirling orbit": http://www.avclub.com/article/virginia-creep-gets-lost-vortex-its-new-song-243637 Available Friday, October 28th both digitally and on cassette through long running collaborators Robotic Empire, Virginia Creep hit the ground running with a powerful first release. The EP can be pre-ordered now via iTunes or Bandcamp with immediate download of "Vortex" (additionally, you can stream the single next Friday, October 14th via Spotify, Apple Music, etc): EP pre-order via iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/virginia-creep-ep/id1153767804?app=itunes EP pre-order via Bandcamp - https://roboticempire.bandcamp.com/album/virginia-creep-ep The cassette edition comes with double-sided full color artwork, vinyl sticker and includes a digital download of the full EP, available to pre-order now via Robotic Empire's Online Store: https://www.roboticempire.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=6565 #virginiacreep #vortex #pigdestroyer #tideland

[roboticempire]

Promptly following the end of both pg.99 and City of Caterpillar over 12 years ago, five members Voltronically reassembled as the beast known only as Malady. Eight songs were deftly constructed and their sole album was released in late 2004, merging the intensity of their previous outfits along with a slightly more streamlined song structure and propulsive tempo. Malady's self-titled album has remained out of print for a decade, and Robotic Empire's digital-focused sibling label The Archivist is proud to now re-present the release across all main digital platforms: iTunes - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/malady/id1157151222?app=itunes Apple Music - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/malady/id1157151222?mt=1&app=music Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Malady/dp/B01M08GN7S Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Malady_Malady?id=Bk2g3e4ul43qargokkm6gdgnkfm Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/01cgr12raMqGD2JJ38fDCj Bandcamp - https://thearchivistlabel.bandcamp.com/album/malady More info on The Archivist (and other releases from City of Caterpillar, Majority Rule, Joshua Fit For Battle and many others) can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/thearchivistlabel https://thearchivistlabel.bandcamp.com #malady #maladyband #cityofcaterpillar #pg99 #pygmylush #thearchivist

[roboticempire]

Kickass write up on the Creation Is Crucifixion 2x12" we released earlier this year. http://still-single.tumblr.com/post/146640379591/creation-is-crucifixion-antenna-builder-the We still have copies on gold vinyl available in our Online Store: http://www.roboticempire.com/store #creationiscrucifixion

[roboticempire]

2 months have passed since the release of our third Nirvana tribute LP, so a brief highlight on why the 13 bands included were important to represent the release, completing the original "Nirvana Studio Album" tribute-trifecta idea hatched so many years ago. # 13 - The Saddest Landscape is the last band to cover in this two-week re-cap session, but I believe the first band locked in for the last tribute. Their guitar player Daniel Danger has been kicking around our exosphere forever, and we released his underrated emo band Some Stranger's debut EP a few years back. Beyond that, he acted almost as co-producer for this crazy tribute, making some great band suggestions, introductions to cats I hadn't worked with before and generally cheered on what was a pretty ambitious project. For a variety of circumstances, there was really only two months to orchestrate all 13 bands' recordings for the release. In fact, the project only began in earnest 6 months before the actual Record Store Day releases. Given that the first tribute took 8 years(!) to assemble, that says a lot about pulling off this thing in just a few months. My hat is off to Dr. Danger for his moral support and killer tune contributed via The Saddest Landscape, one of the longest-running active screamo bands going today. Oh yeah he's an artist or something too. "Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach" is still available on vinyl & digitally. We have mailorder copies on clear & silver vinyl, and retail stores can stock remaining copies from our distributor Revolver USA/Midheaven. Anyone late to the party can order here: https://www.roboticempire.com/store http://www.midheaven.com The digital version is on Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, et all: https://roboticempire.bandcamp.com/album/various-artists-doused-in-mud-soaked-in-bleach https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/doused-in-mud-soaked-in-bleach/id1094499175?app=itunes https://open.spotify.com/album/1rlU4cRnYkd9qyTAPNMcek Thank you for reading, more on each band to come over the following days! #dousedinmudsoakedinbleach #nirvanatribute #roboticempire #thesaddestlandscape #saddestlandscape #danieldanger #somestranger #screamo #emo #vlv

[roboticempire]

2 months have passed since the release of our third Nirvana tribute LP, so brief highlights on why the 13 bands included were important to represent the release, completing the original "Nirvana Studio Album" tribute-trifecta idea hatched so many years ago. # 12 - Daughters burst forth, middle fingers raised high once again! These tribute LPs were a great excuse to get these New England hellraisers to make noise together again, and through much patience, persistence and persterment Daughters appears to be a semi "functional" band again. Their take on Nirvana covers has been more straightforward than I'd initially imagined, but to get to hear any new recordings from these guys has been a thrill. Although I love all eras and genres Daughters has covered, from their screamy grind'ish beginnings to twisted, dark mathy rock weirdness they morphed into... all the way through to the new material and obscurities, Daughters journey has been an amazing, freaky hot mess. Compared to the unreal stylistic leaps and bounds made between Canada Songs and Hell Songs, the strange new stuff they are working on is just as out there and different in relation to what they've done before. Although we're presently at an impasse with Brian Cook's somewhat grueling but captivating book on the band, that they're simply active again at all is great - and with 4 now sold-out East Coast reunion shows on deck for the fall, fingers crossed there's more ahead from these lovable brutes. "Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach" is available both on vinyl & digitally. We have mailorder copies of clear & silver vinyl, and retail stores can stock copies from our distributor Revolver USA/Midheaven. Anyone late to the party can order here: https://www.roboticempire.com/store http://www.midheaven.com The digital version is on Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, et all: https://roboticempire.bandcamp.com/album/various-artists-doused-in-mud-soaked-in-bleach https://open.spotify.com/album/1rlU4cRnYkd9qyTAPNMcek Thank you for reading, more on each band to come over the following days! #dousedinmudsoakedinbleach #nirvanatribute #roboticempire #daughters #daughtersband Photo by Scott Smallin