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Brooklyn, NY atmospheric doomsters A STORM OF LIGHT will kick off their long-anticipated US tour tomorrow, February 18th, at Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia. The tour will pillage through 19 cities and include seven west coast shows with SHRINEBUILDER before winding down in their home borough on March 18th at Union Pool.

2/18/2010 Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA
2/19/2010 Gallery 5 – Richmond, VA
2/20/2010 The Hideaway – Johnson City, TN
2/21/2010 King Pin Bowl – Athens, GA
2/22/2010 Club 529 – Atlanta, GA
2/24/2010 Rubber Gloves – Denton, TX
2/25/2010 Emo’s – Austin, TX
2/27/2010 23 West – Tempe, AZ
2/28/2010 Club Congress – Tucson, AZ
3/02/2010 Casbah – San Diego, CA w/ SHRINEBUILDER
3/03/2010 Echo – Los Angeles, CA w/ SHRINEBUILDER
3/04/2010 Echo – Los Angeles, CA w/ SHRINEBUILDER
3/05/2010 Voodoo Lounge – San Jose, CA w/ SHRINEBUILDER + HARVESTMAN
3/06/2010 Oakland Metro – Oakland, CA w/ SHRINEBUILDER + HARVESTMAN
3/07/2010 The Independent – San Francisco, CA w/ SHRINEBUILDER + HARVESTMAN
3/09/2010 Neumos – Seattle, WA w/ SHRINEBUILDER
3/10/2010 Rotture – Portland, OR
3/13/2010 Triple Rock – Minneapolis, MN
3/14/2010 Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
3/15/2010 Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
3/18/2010 Union Pool – Brooklyn, NY

A STORM OF LIGHT’s 2010 touring lineup is:
Josh Graham (Battle Of Mice, Blood And Time, Neurosis): guitar, vocals
Domenic Seita (ex Tombs): bass, backing vocals
Geoff Summers (Batillus): drums
Zohra Atash (Religious To Damn): vocals

A STORM OF LIGHT’s permanent members are:
Josh Graham (Battle Of Mice, Blood And Time, Neurosis): guitar, vocals, synthesizers, banjo, piano
Domenic Seita (ex Tombs): bass, backing vocals, percussion
Joel Hamilton (Battle Of Mice, Book Of Knots): guitar, modular

The band released their second full-length, Forgive Us Our Trespasses, in October via Neurot Recordings.

Genres: Ambient, Doom, Drone
Label: Bindrune Recordings

So here’s another review for Bindrune Recordings, a label that instantly became a favorite of mine the second I heard Wodensthrone’s Loss (review).
When I got the opportunity to review the new Blood of the Black Owl, I was fairly excited. And with reason. This is a well regarded band, on a well regarded label.
But when I started to listen to A Banishing Ritual, I must admit, I was a little disappointed. It seemed, at first, just like any other ambient/drone album. 41 minutes of the same shit does get tiring even for me.
Then it got to the 13 minute and 14 or so second mark. And that’s when I really took notice. It’s like Blood of the Black Owl decided to weed out the asshats for fifteenish minutes, and whoever is left listening to the rest will be blown away.
This is one of the finest examples of this kind of music I’ve heard so far. Haunting vocals and some of the doomiest riffs and gorgeous soundscapes follow.
I love it.
Apparently it’s for fans of Ruhr Hunter, The Elemental Chrysalis (both of those bands feature members of Blood of the Black Owl), Neurosis, Celtic Frost, and Swans. But I think fans of My Dying Bride, November’s Doom, The 11th Hour, and Moss will find something to A Banishing Ritual that they enjoy as well.
7.5 out of 10.